The Music Television’s Video Music Awards took place on Sept. 7, and it was a night full of wins, losses, performances and more. With artists ranging from Ariana Grande to Megan Moroney to Alex Warren, the 2025 VMAs were quite the event.
The Video Music Awards, VMAs, began in 1984 at the Radio City Music Hall. MTV wanted to create its own prestigious award to honor the best music videos, since the Music Television brand was centered around music videos.
Although the VMAs might not be considered as prestigious as the Grammys, it is still a very high honor for artists and musicians. Since then, many iconic moments have taken place at this award show, such as the 2009 VMAs when Kanye West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift’s win to shout out Beyoncé.
This year, the performances and musicians spanned across the board. Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Sombr and Sabrina Carpenter, among others, accompanied the awards. Lady Gaga was the most nominated artist of the night with 12 nominations and was also the biggest winner, taking home four awards.
The artist who took home the most prestigious award of the night, however, was Ariana Grande. Grande was awarded Video of the Year for her musical short film “brighter days ahead,” shortly after winning the Best Pop award. In her acceptance speech, she said, “Thank you first and foremost to my fans, I love you with every fiber of my being.” She also took home Best Longform Video for “brighter days ahead.”
Other notable awardees include Alex Warren for Best New Artist, Blackpink for Best Group and Ricky Martin for the Latin Icon Award, along with Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay” for Best Country, Busta Rhymes for the Rock the Bells Visionary Award and Best Album went to Sabrina Carpenter for “Short n’ Sweet.”
The part of the night that is most looked forward to by fans and viewers are the performances. This year, they did not disappoint. Doja Cat opened the night with an ‘80s-esque performance of her song “Jealous Type” with Kenny G. While the set and music were very strong,the stand-out quality of this performance was her dance and choreography. The background dancers had perfect onstage chemistry with Doja Cat, and the choreography was complex and matched the vibe of the set perfectly. Doja Cat is known for her immersive performances, and this show was the perfect way to start the award ceremony.
Tate McRae’s performance was also a highlight of the night, and she stood out. Also known for her stage presence, McRae’s performance of popular songs “Revolving Door” and “Sports Car” was outstanding. She included her iconic backbend from the “Revolving Door” music video, which gained popularity on TikTok this past year. With a background in dance, McRae’s performances are always fun to watch.
The VMAs are always a memorable night of music, performances and honoring the talented musicians among us. While the VMAs might be considered more casual than other award ceremonies, the iconic statue of the astronaut that sits on top of these awards is a valuable tribute to the work of these artists.
